[matese]

hello there, just reading your thread now, I agree with other members,her separation from you "could" have been from scary unfamiliar medicine smells emitting from you, changing your scent. Dogs as you know have a keen sense of smell, and her coming into season could be a factor in this also. Happy to see she is starting to be her lil "daddy's little girl"again. As for off the leash walks, in your condition, IMO I don't think that's a good idea now, you had one experience and I am sure it was horrifying. I once had a 7 month old escape from my yard and she took off into the woods, the more I chased after her the faster she ran, so I stopped in my tracks, found a branch, caught her attention, threw the branch (her favorite game was fetch) she turned around to get the branch and I was able to get her, the experience for me was over whelming, I thought I would loose her for ever, she was such a "wild thing" (now pasted). So I know how you felt the time she got away from you. As I have written, off the leash in your condition I do not think is a wise choice. Give yourself time to fully heal before you do any off the leash walks. good luck while your wife is off on holiday.